Jazz for aficionados


Jazz for aficionados

I'm going to review records in my collection, and you'll be able to decide if they're worthy of your collection. These records are what I consider "must haves" for any jazz aficionado, and would be found in their collections. I wont review any record that's not on CD, nor will I review any record if the CD is markedly inferior. Fortunately, I only found 1 case where the CD was markedly inferior to the record.

Our first album is "Moanin" by Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers. We have Lee Morgan , trumpet; Benney Golson, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Jymie merrit, bass; Art Blakey, drums.

The title tune "Moanin" is by Bobby Timmons, it conveys the emotion of the title like no other tune I've ever heard, even better than any words could ever convey. This music pictures a person whose down to his last nickel, and all he can do is "moan".

"Along Came Betty" is a tune by Benny Golson, it reminds me of a Betty I once knew. She was gorgeous with a jazzy personality, and she moved smooth and easy, just like this tune. Somebody find me a time machine! Maybe you knew a Betty.

While the rest of the music is just fine, those are my favorite tunes. Why don't you share your, "must have" jazz albums with us.

Enjoy the music.
orpheus10

Showing 50 responses by inna

Jean-Luc completely spoiled the great Lotus Feet composition by McLaughlin.

This is a disaster.

Epidemiological situation does not look good and will remain so for now. 
People are getting tired even exhausted. I have high tolerance but I feel some of it as well. We are physical beings in addition to social beings. This is unnatural and this is very tough.
memphis, you are right of course. Everyone I know is in quite a bad mood, openly or not really, but you can hear it when you talk to them, even sometimes when talking in writing. They are not necessarily depressed in a full sense of it but yeah, not good. 
Mind if I stop by ? I was looking for some progressive modern jazz recommendations and found a kind of political/ideological discussion.
The greatest force for good is the force that does least evil. Isn't it obvious ? Anyway, what would you recommend to listen to to someone who admires Bitches Brew by Miles and Mahavishnu Orchestra?
Orpheus10 once suggested Niels Molvaer. I like him, the best performance I could find on youtube was called Live&direct. Besides Niels the drummer there is first class, the rest are good too. True modern jazz in my perception.
I think, Terje 's got something, I scanned a few of his concerts on youtube, but..he is no McLaughlin or even Peter Cosey and Reggie Lucas who played with Miles. Molvaer stands way above him, in my opinion. At his best, Niel's soaring trumpet is delightful and deep. And I am quite hard to please.
Frogman, thank you, I am well familiar with them all. I meant something more modern. But Molvaer is really good, I think, Miles-like to a degree but not quite, definitely has his own style and vision.
Ghosthouse, I understand. Connecting on emotional level is very subjective, and we all know it very well.
McLaughlin's music, whatever he plays, if you listen carefully, is very unusual and complex, as is his personality. He is not easily accessible. Nor is Miles Davis.
Miles's influence on modern progressive music is incomparable. But I think that McLaughlin influenced many as well, especially guitar players. He is a unique musician and can play in many musical traditions. 
Blues, perhaps? You got to be fast to follow him. The man was not far from death at the time of the performance, and he knew it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpzLTJ_9twc
Ghosthouse, no I have never heard of them.
Well, it appears that my taste is mostly quite different, with some exceptions.
Orpheus10, he is Iranian not Arab. You should never get confused, they don't tolerate it. And I am not at all an expert in flamenco.
Frogman, I first wanted to comment on your comments but changed my mind. In any case, I doubt that my intention was to elicit in you what got elicited. 
Yes, the tape project will come in my circle at the right moment. This will be either Otari or Studer.
And before what was played before Miles was also Miles. I think, he needed no-one in a usual sense. Everything that was played with Miles and everyone who played with Miles were also in essence him. He simply couldn't play all the instruments required to play what he wanted to be played, nor could he do it at the same time. Milie's bands were one man bands. And yet he managed to bring out the best in everyone he played with. He was a unique musician and a very unusual person with special abilities.
Orpheus10, I believe this is the best acoustic guitar album of all times. It is deeper than Friday Night in San-Francisco. Bad digital sound from 80s. I have it on Japanese pro record, that's the best one can do.
It appears that there are no musical ideas at all there. Generally speaking, I think that Scandinavians have a much better sense of jazz and jazz fusion.
About Miles. I read, right or wrong, that after the 'Bitches Brew' he said to McLaughlin that he would be happy to have him in his band on a permanent basis and explore the new music together. At the same time he advised him to form his own band and continue independently. That's what gave an additional impulse to John's Mahavishnu Orchestra project.
When it comes to jazz fusion as I understand the term - no-one, except Nils Molvaer, but he is not in the same league.
I stopped listening to classical jazz a long time ago.
Going outside fusion, El Camaron de la Isla - the greatest flamenco singer of modern times, perhaps ever; some Paco de Lucia and Al Di Meola albums, Dead Can Dance, Suspended Memories - tribal ambient, some exotic unusual vocals - Sussan Deyhim, Azam Ali, Rasa, some Middle Eastern music, especially Persian, some neo-classical - "Umbersun" by Elend comes to mind, some of Malmsteen when he is at his best - listen to his concert with New Japan Philharmonic-, and from time to time I find interesting enough videos on youtube by others. Overall, I like very few, both artists and compositions.
For acoustic work by Al Di Meola I suggest "Cielo e Terra" and "Heart of the Immigrants" albums. Some tracks from "Kiss my Axe" are quite good too, the composition entitled "Morocco" is certainly worth the attention.
The recording quality would've been excellent had it been analog ! All three of them are great but listen to John's solos.
Something totally different. I don't listen to it often but I do listen to it.
Tony Scott - Music for the Zen Meditation. He plays with Japanese musicians.
Yes, that's the album. 
Orpheus10, very nice video. Argentinian tango is sensual and elegant. 
Orpheus10, I think original German record will sound best. I tried to find a Japanese copy but there appears to be none available.

I think, they are not bad, could be a little more sophisticated. For some reason I liked the last two tracks most. I checked their other albums as well. I like tribal ambient music.
You could try Steve Roach/Jorge Reyes - Vine Bark&Spore album. I play it quite often as a background music. It doesn't call to attention to it, not invasive in any way, creates certain mindscapes and surroundings. You don't have to listen to it in a usual sense, it is more that it will listen to you.
Vine bark&spore is available from amazon.
Telepathic communication would beat anything I can imagine. Primitive cultures or primal basic cultures?
I think, that before this Studer/Otari project I will want to replace my phono stage, which is pretty good, with a great tube one, and then replace the cartridge. After that I will be ready. But, I could do it in the reverse order too, I guess. I don't have to decide it right now. But eventually there will be no turntable or cd player in my main system, only RTR deck, amps and speakers. Turntable and cd player will be in another system or in the closet until needed.
Orpheus10, you are too pessimistic. Yes, it would cost, and shipping RTR deck has its risks, but it's worth it. There is no end of the road. If I get Otari and at some point will have to ship it to Japan to properly service it, I will ship it to Japan. The same with Studer. I will find places in Europe if I can't find them in the US or Canada.  My audiophile fund is quite limited, but I will save up and get it done. It might take time to find qualified people prepared to deal with shipping decks, I'll find them. For now I am about to ship my Nakamichi 682ZX deck to Willy Hermann in California to have it cleaned aligned and for minor repairs. He will spend 5-6 hours with the deck to make sure everything is in top condition. Yes, it would cost me around $850 including shipping both ways. But I play the deck a lot and have to do it only every 5-7 years.
So, things are pretty bad but not that bad.
Orpheus10, yes I know that you do analog/digital and then digital/analog conversion. But I think, I'll keep it analog without any conversions. Besides, my knowledge of computers approaches zero.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T0V0w6fzUM
Also, if it is really bad with money, I have a few records and a few older pieces of equipment that I could easily sell if I have to, this would give me extra $1k-$1.5k. Hell, I could even sell couple of my custom knives that I would replace later. I could buy a good looking Otari for about $1k right now but I won't because of extra expenses. This would be a serious project not just getting another source. Generally speaking, I don't care much about vinyl, it is an excellent medium for archive, I only like tape.
No Ghosthouse, I wouldn't listen to this.
Anyone enjoys Joe Zawinul Sindicate music? Not that I do much but at least I can listen to it from time to time in limited quantity.
I am somewhat surprised that so few people participate in this thread. Many exhibit their systems on the system page but little if any active participation. 
Orpheus10, I will keep the orthodox tradition and best sound possible by avoiding conversions. Nor do I need to have record library in the computer. By the way, computers break down all the time including hard drives, your collection their is not safe unless perhaps you also have it on external hard drive, which is more reliable, though can deteriorate too.  No-one I know keeps valuable things only in their computers. Besides, one power surge and computer is gone. Yes, there are some people capable of retrieving information from seemingly ruined hard drives, but that's complicated and expensive.
I will take a leave of this thread now, will be back in a few weeks. Clearly, whatever people currently post here is not really worth my attention. You and I do have certain common ground especially when it comes to acoustic guitar and more unusual music. But I strongly disagree with your statement that there is no such thing as bad taste and that everything is subjective, that's kind of equally valid. However, this subject is far beyond and above this thread and this forum. Just a word of caution. I read a number of posts on Audiogon written by amateur psychologists at best and people having no idea of those things at worst. Let us try to refrain from discussing complicated matters here belonging somewhere else.


" Without women none of us would be here ".
Maybe would've been better for us, who knows ?
How you people doing overall ?